Words to know: Pancreatic cancer
- Adenocarcinoma
- The most common type of pancreatic cancer. It starts in cells that line the ducts of the pancreas.
- Adjuvant therapy
- Treatment given after surgery to lower the chance the cancer comes back.
- Neoadjuvant therapy
- Treatment given before surgery to shrink the cancer and treat hidden cancer cells.
- Perioperative therapy
- Treatment given both before and after surgery.
- Bile duct
- A tube that carries bile (a digestive fluid) from the liver to the small intestine. It passes through the pancreas.
- Jaundice
- Yellow skin and eyes caused by a buildup of bile, often from a blocked bile duct.
- Stent
- A small tube placed inside a duct to keep it open.
- Whipple surgery
- An operation that removes the head of the pancreas and nearby parts. Also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy.
- Resectable
- Able to be fully removed with surgery.
- Borderline resectable
- A tumor near major blood vessels that may be removable after treatment first.
- Locally advanced
- Cancer that has grown around nearby blood vessels but has not spread to distant organs.
- Metastatic
- Cancer that has spread from where it started to other parts of the body.
- CA 19-9
- A protein in the blood that can be high with pancreatic cancer. It helps track treatment.
- Germline mutation
- A gene change you were born with. It can be passed down in families.
- Somatic mutation
- A gene change found only in the tumor. It is not inherited.
- Genetic counselor
- An expert who explains gene test results and what they mean for you and your family.
- Pancreatic enzymes
- Capsules that replace the digestive juices the pancreas can no longer make.
- Exocrine insufficiency
- When the pancreas does not make enough digestive enzymes, causing oily stools and weight loss.
- PARP inhibitor
- A type of targeted pill that can work for cancers with BRCA or similar gene changes.
- Celiac plexus block
- A shot that numbs the bundle of nerves carrying pain from the pancreas.
- Chemoradiation
- Chemotherapy and radiation given during the same period.
- Maintenance therapy
- Ongoing, often lighter treatment to keep the cancer under control after the first phase.
- Palliative care
- Care that eases symptoms and improves quality of life at any stage of illness. It is given along with cancer treatment.
- Blood clot
- A clump of blood that can block a vein, often in the leg or lung. Also called VTE.
- Clinical trial
- A research study that tests new treatments in people.
Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.